Jaundice in Adults

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.

Bhupinder S. Anand, MBBS, MD, DPHIL (OXON)

Dr. Anand received MBBS degree from Medical College Amritsar, University of Punjab. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the Postgraduate Institute of medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. He was trained in the field of Gastroenterology and obtained the DPhil degree. Dr. Anand is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

Jaundice definition

Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes and of
the white of the eyes caused by elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood
(hyperbilirubinemia). The term jaundice is derived from the French word jaune,
which means yellow. Jaundice is not a disease per se, but rather a visible
sign of an underlying disease process. Jaundice is typically seen when the level
of bilirubin in the blood exceeds 2.5-3 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).

Jaundice in adults

Jaundice in adults can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, some of
which are serious and potentially life-threatening. Any adult who develops
jaundice needs to undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation in order to
determine its cause. Neonatal jaundice, a condition seen in newborns, is
most often a benign condition that improves without serious aftereffects
(sequelae).

Jaundice Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Jaundice?

Jaundice, also referred to as icterus, is the yellow staining of the skin and sclerae (the whites of the eyes) by abnormally high blood levels of the bile pigment, bilirubin. The yellowing extends to other tissues and body fluids and also may turn the urine dark. Yellowing of only the skin also can be caused by eating too many carrots or drinking too much carrot juice.